Key skills and expertise

Bringing over 27 years of experience in social policy and inclusion, the expert focuses on disability policies, social services, and child protection. They possess strong skills in research, analysis, monitoring, and evaluation of legislation and projects. Their project experience spans local and international initiatives, including capacity development for government institutions and NGOs. Responsibilities have included coordinating EU-funded projects, developing training modules, and conducting impact assessments. Career highlights include developing guidelines for disability rights policies and presenting research findings to key stakeholders across Europe.

Project experience and donor exposure

Worked across diverse projects involving collaboration with international donors such as the European Network on Independent Living, the European Parliament, and the European Association of Service Providers for Persons with Disabilities. Involvement includes project implementation, technical assistance, evaluations, and capacity building in areas like disability rights and social inclusion. The work spans regional and national scales, covering locations such as Belarus, Belgium, Bulgaria, Turkey, and the UK. Projects focused on governance, social services, and community-based care.

Sectors and geographic focus

With a background in community development, NGOs, education, training and capacity building, gender and human rights, and social development, the expert has held roles such as consultant, project manager, and researcher. Their interdisciplinary expertise includes monitoring and evaluation, policy analysis, and capacity development. The expert's work spans regional and country-specific projects, particularly in Europe and Asia, addressing cross-cutting issues like deinstitutionalization and community-based service development. Extensive geographic experience includes significant involvement in Bulgaria, Turkey, Belarus, Belgium, and the UK, with numerous long-term assignments focusing on local governance and regional development issues.

Languages and education

The expert is a native Bulgarian speaker and is fluent in English, with proficiency in Spanish and Russian. They have utilized these language skills in various professional contexts, including international projects and collaborations with multilingual teams. The expert's language competence has supported their work in diverse countries and facilitated communication across different cultural settings. They are a PhD candidate at University College London, UK, since 2011. They hold an MA in International Development: Social Policy and Social Development from the University of Manchester, UK (2005-2006). Additionally, they obtained a Master in Psychology, specializing in Social Psychology and Counselling Psychology, from Sofia University ‘St. Kliment Ohridski’, Bulgaria (1993-1998).